200 Foundations of Social Work. The development, skills, knowledge, and perspectives of the Social Work profession. Students will be introduced to concepts fundamental to understanding the helping professions’ efforts on behalf of vulnerable populations. Includes history, practice settings, professional roles, agencies, political implications, and values/ethics related to social work careers. Includes a required service learning project.
323 Medicine and Mental Health. An examination of the ways social factors influence the diagnosis and treatment of physical and mental illness. Special attention will be given to the social conceptions of illness and health and the differential distribution of health care and mental health services.
330 Human Behavior in the Social Environment. Study of the person in her/his environment using models of human behavior focusing on the interaction between persons and the social systems they encounter throughout maturation. Knowledge about persons as biological, psychological, social, cultural, and spiritual creatures is integrated as the “person” is followed through the life cycle. Special attention will be given to the interactions and systems as they relate to and affect Social Work practice with a variety of populations, including those experiencing ethnic, racial, and age-based discrimination.
331 Selected Topics in Social Work. Topics not included in the regular course offerings. Topic and prerequisite specified in semester course schedule. May be repeated with different topics.
333 Social Welfare Policy and Services. The development and implementation of social welfare policies from historical, political, and philosophical frameworks. How does a society decide: who should be served, when, how much, and in what fashion? How does this reflect the society’s perspectives about “others” in their world who may be poor or otherwise disadvantaged? What actions are chosen and why?
336 Generalist Social Work Practice Methods I. Theoretical foundations of generalist social work practice with individuals and families. Focus on case-management skills; assessment, goal-setting, intervention, termination, and practice evaluation in a systemic, Person-in-Environment context. Special attention to work with diverse and vulnerable populations.
337 Generalist Social Work Practice Methods II. Theoretical foundations of generalist social work practice with groups, communities, and organizations. Groups dynamics concepts used to apply problem-solving methods for treatment and task groups. Community organization emphasized as a viable practice method. Close relationship between community and organizations explored through concepts of empowerment, control, mobilization, collective action and problem-solving.
404 Modern Social Work Theory. Major theoretical systems used in current social work practice at the micro, mezzo, and macro levels. Application to special populations will be included.
405 Senior Social Work Capstone. Culminating course in social work that synthesizes theory, research, policy, and practice methods. Students produce documents that combine research and analysis applied to practice in the field. Understanding of social work concepts and readiness/competency to begin the professional social work practice must be demonstrated.
495 Social Work Practicum I. With 496, two consecutive semesters of supervised practicum consisting of a minimum of 400 hours in an approved social work setting. Requires weekly seminars on campus. Social Work majors only.
496 Social Work Practicum II. Continuation of 495.